Carnaval de El Callao

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Carnival & ParadeEl Callao
DatesDates TBA · Usually FebruaryCheck locally before booking
Duration5 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forMasks, paradesFew Venezuelan festivals carry as explicit a
Language["es"]Currency: VES
CategoryCarnival & ParadeFestival type
The story

Carnaval de El Callao in El Callao

The Carnaval de El Callao is a Bolivar state carnival dating to 1914, born from the fusion of gold-mining immigrants from Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Curacao, Brazil and the Netherlands with local culture, featuring calypso music and Madama, Medio Pinto and miner characters, recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.

El Callao's carnival did not begin as a Venezuelan tradition transplanted into a mining town; it was invented there, out of necessity and cultural collision.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Few Venezuelan festivals carry as explicit a multinational Caribbean immigration story: early twentieth-century gold and iron mining in El Callao drew workers from Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Curacao, Brazil and the Netherlands, whose cultural traditions fused with local Venezuelan customs to produce a distinctive calypso-driven carnival unlike any other in the country, formally recognised as evidence of that fusion when UNESCO inscribed it as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on December 1, 2016

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Calypso music and character-based costuming

Water and renewal

Living ritual

including La Madama (representing Afro-Caribbean women)

The sacred route

Living ritual

Medio Pinto and miner figures

The local code

Living ritual

all rooted in the early twentieth-century convergence of Caribbean immigrant mining communities with local Venezuelan culture in El Callao

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually February

Getting around

Expect street closures, dense pedestrian flow, and slow exits. Comfortable shoes are essential.

What to wear

Light, breathable clothing suited to Bolivar state's hot tropical climate; costume elements are for parade participants, but comfortable, festive clothing is appropriate for spectators along...

Safety

Keep valuables light, set a meeting point, and give processions room to move.

Where to stay

Choose lodging by the part of El Callao you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Tickets/cost

Many carnival moments are public, but confirm paid areas or stands before travel.

Language/currency

["es"] · VES

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map7.35 N, 61.83 WOpen in Google Maps

El Callao, Bolivar, Venezuela

Nearest airportPZO — General Manuel Carlos Piar
TransportExpect street closures, dense pedestrian flow, and slow exits. Comfortable shoes are essential.
Stay areaChoose lodging by the part of El Callao you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to El Callao via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near El Callao, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for February.Compare faresFestival gearLight, breathable clothing suited to Bolivar state's hot tropical climate; costume elements are for parade participants, but comfortable, festive clothing is appropriate for spectators along the parade route.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Venezuela and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Carnaval de El Callao?

Carnaval de El Callao is listed for Past edition: 13–17 February 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Carnaval de El Callao take place?

The festival is listed in El Callao, Venezuela. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

5 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

El Callao, Bolivar, Venezuela

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLcarnaval.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually February
Source statusOfficial source linked
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